MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Russian Defense Ministry plans a major expedition in the Arctic Region in 2015 with members of the Public Council under the defense agency and cultural personalities to participate in it, Russian Defense Minister General Sergey Shoigu said at a plenary meeting of the Public Council under Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday.

“A major expedition is planned in the Arctic Region. I refer to our island formations which are deployed there. Their deployment will be finalized in 2015. These places are Wrangel Island, Kotelny Island on the New Siberian Islands, Sredny Island, Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land and Schmidt Cape,” the minister said.

Around 700 who need not only support of relatives, but also a cultural program are on combat duty in quite difficult conditions on Kotelny Island. "Cultural landing party" is planned also to land on Alakurtti and Novaya Zemlya. “We want to invite members of the Public Council to hold such a good cultural program,” Shoigu said. He suggested a direct link-up with Kotelny Island through the aid of Russian media so that soldiers and officers will be able to talk to their relatives.